N.H. police officer killed while responding to domestic incident

Members of Maine's law enforcement community say domestic violence cases are unpredictable, but said measures can be taken to try to reduce the chance of violent incidents like one that claimed the life of a New Hampshire police officer.

Officer Steve Arkell was responding to a domestic between a father and son when he was killed in Brentwood, N.H., on Monday.

Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce says his office tries to send two officers to domestic violence cases, but it's not always feasible. When deputies do arrive on the scene, incidents that appear under control can quickly turn violent.

"In most cases it's an act of passion, jealousy involved so with all those issues at the forefront we consider these very dangerous," Joyce said.

Steven Edmondson investigates all domestic violence cases in Sagadahoc County for the Sagadahoc District Attorney's Office and has dealt with 20 so far this year. He served in the Topsham Police Department before becoming an investigator.

"It all begins with the communications office, the dispatchers who take the call. It is so critical and incumbent upon them to get as much information about the ongoing situation and relay that to the officers," Edmondson said.

Joyce said getting all the information about a volatile situation can be tough for dispatchers to do.

Edmondson said he was alarmed but not surprised with the violence in New Hampshire.

"Officers respond to these on a regular basis. We just pray that they end peacefully and unfortunately this case didn't," he said.

CASES... SHERNAY POLICE SAY THESE CASES ARE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY'RE SO UNPREDICTABLE. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN MEASURES THEY TRY TO TAKE TO PREVENT OR AT LEAST REDUCE INCIDENTS LIKE WE SAW IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. Nats of explosion? It's likely an officer Was shot and killed moments before this home in Brentwood, nh exploded in flames, according to police. They say officer Steve Arkell was responding to a domestic call at the house between a father and son. Edmondson 22:30:30 bothered, alarmed but not at all surprised. officers respond to these on a regular basis. we just pray that they end peacefully and unfortunately this case didn't 30:43 Steven Edmondson investigates all domestic violence cases in Sagadahoc county for the District Attorney. So far this year he says there've been 20 cases but nothing that ended in an officer killed. Edmondson 22:31:15 it all begins with the communications office, the dispatchers who take the call it is so critical and incumbent upon them to get as much information about the ongoing situation and relay that to the officers 31:25 He says it's important dispatchers are thorough so officers don't get blind-sighted. But cumberland county sheriff Kevin Joyce says that's hard to do. Joyce 22:35:42 he or she doesn't know what they're going to walk into 35:43 Sheriff Joyce says his department tries to send two officers to domestic violence cases but it's not always feasible. And when they do arrive on the scene, incidents that appear under control, can quickly turn violent in a moments notice. Joyce 35:43 in most cases it's an act of passion, jealousy involved so with all those issues at the forefront we consider these very dangerous 35:43 EDMONDSON SAYS IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT OFFICERS STAY IN CONTACT WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND CONNECT THEM WITH RESOURCES. LIVE IN PORTLAND, SW,WMTW NEWS 8